Local food systems are direct pipelines to improved health.
This month has already been amazing for us at LB as we work with clients to help them hone in on their farmers market haul strategy and get all the local foods that they need for healthy living, fermentation projects, farm to table recipes and of course herbal medicine making. (below my explanation of why local food is good for your health is a list of food sources in Central Virginia).
Local food systems aren’t just important to invest into they are the direct pipeline to improved health (this includes water).
We had on our client call for Everyday Herbalism Fast Track an expert on Lupus this past week and it was so much fun to uncover some unique reasons why local food is essential in your overall healthy eating/lifestyle plan. We discussed how to exactly make your plan aligned with your goals, how to set up reliable supplier relationships with local farmers and food producers and the nutrient density available in local foods versus other food sources.
When you eat in season you are enhancing every organ system of your body and when you are eating locally grown food it is usually without the pesticides and other chemicals that are throughout commercial produce. The local food is also based in regenerative or micro grow set ups so the soils are healthy and therefore the food is more nutrient dense.
Farmers markets offer direct alliances with local growers and therefore relationships can be established to seek interesting parts of plants and specialty items not normally available in commercial operations. Think rare fruits, mushrooms, berries, herbs, nuts, bee products, fermented foods, forest crops and wild foods.
If you are going to embark of herbal medicine making, fermentation, pickling, canning or other forms of preservation than the higher quality of food makes the best preparations. You should think ahead what preparations you are going to make, what will be available at market and make the most of your hauls.
We cover how to organize and properly align with your specific needs in the first phase of Everyday Herbalism Fast Track right here.
We help you prioritize yourself, stay organized and learn new skills.
If you live in Central Virginia here is a list of local food sources:
The Carytown Farmers Market
Birdhouse Farmers Market
RVA Growers Market
West End Farmers Market
Lakeside Farmer's Market
GrowRVA (South of the James Farmers Market & RVA BIG Market)
The Farmers Market at St. Stephen's
RVA’s Black Farmers Market
Shalom Farms (mobile market)
Dorey Park Farmers Market
Goochland Farmers Market
Ashland VA Farmers Market
Chesterfield County Farmers Market
The Great Big Greenhouse & Nursery (weekly farmers market)
Broadfork Farm (self-serve farm stand)
Hanover Vegetable Farm (farm stand on site, local festivals, self-pick options)
Forrest Green Farm (local onsite shop, Memorial Day festival, herbs)
Twisted Carrot Farm and Market (lots of local learning events)
Farm to Family CSA/The FarmBus (mobile farmers market)
On the Square VA Farmers Market (downtown RVA)
Powhatan Village Farmers Market
Northside Food Access Coalition
Pole Green Produce, LLC (well rated produce stand/market)
Seasonal Roots (local foods/farm product delivered to your home)
Polyface (the ultimate resource for regenerative ag is right here in Virginia).
Farmstead Fest (end of this month! connect with RVA and other Virginia homesteaders who produce local produce/products etc.)
Woodside Farms (local events)
Farmstead Ferments & Mercantile shop on site/ local probiotics, fermentations and more
Hatteras Saltworks (mineral dense locally harvested salt)
Richmond Olive Oil Co. (carefully sourced, curated olive oils and other products).
Carytown Teas (carefully curated teas and herbs including local)
Charlottesville City Market (Charlottesville)
River City Market
River Street Market
River City Flower Exchange (local flowers for wholesale)
Fall Line Farms & Local Roots (delivered to your house)
Again, remember, local food systems are the direct pipeline to improved health!!